Floor panel

ABSTRACT

A floor panel for a vehicle compartment includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface and the second surface have different material properties. One of the surfaces is provided with a plurality of rollers disposed to project above the surface when the surface is uppermost. Both of the first and said second surfaces are capable of being uppermost while the floor panel is located in the vehicle compartment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to floor panels for vehicle compartments.

2. Description of the Related Art

In many vehicles, particularly automobiles, it is known to providevehicle compartments with a suitable trim, for example carpet, to reducenoise, for aesthetic reasons and for comfort of occupants of thecompartment if appropriate. However, with use such trim can becomesoiled or damaged, particularly in load carrying compartments, forexample car boots. U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,612 discloses a lining for a loadbed of an open-bodied truck, but such a lining is simply intended tocover the exposed metal surfaces of the load bed. German Gebrauchsmusternumber DE 29909851 U discloses adapting a vehicle compartment to carrybicycles, but is not generally applicable to other loads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aim of the present invention is to provide a new or improved floorpanel.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide a floor panel for avehicle compartment, the panel comprising a first surface and a secondsurface, wherein the panel is adapted to be disposed in the vehiclecompartment with a selected one of said surfaces uppermost.

One of said surfaces may comprise carpet.

One of said surfaces may comprise a durable surface, preferablycomprising a durable polymer.

One of said surfaces may be provided with a plurality of bearing meansdisposed to project above said surface when said surface is uppermost.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a floor panelfor a vehicle compartment, wherein the panel comprises a surface and aplurality of bearing means disposed to project above said surface.

The bearing means may comprise a plurality of rollers.

Each of said plurality of rollers may have an axis of rotation, eachaxis of rotation being generally parallel and wherein said axes ofrotation may be disposed such that a load is introduced into thecompartment in a direction generally transverse to said axes.

Releasable locking means may be provided to prevent or restrain rotationof said bearing means.

The locking means comprises a locking surface which is moveable intoengagement with a surface of the bearing means.

The panel may be adapted to extend across the whole width of the vehiclecompartment.

The panel may extend across a part of the vehicle compartment.

The panel may be adapted to engage support means provided in the vehiclecompartment.

The panel may be symmetrical.

The panel may comprise anchor means to engage load restraint means.

The anchor means may comprise D-rings.

A surface of the panel may comprise ridges.

Where the panel comprises bearing means, the bearing means may beprovided such that they project above the upper sin-face of said ridges.

According to a third aspect of the invention we provide a vehiclecomprising a vehicle compartment wherein there is provided a panelaccording to the first or second aspects of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only withreference to the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first and second surface ofa panel for a compartment of a vehicle according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a first and second surface ofan alternate panel for the compartment of the vehicle according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a vehicle compartment provided with the floorpanel of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view on a larger scale of part of the panel ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a similar view to FIG. 4 showing an alternative configurationof part of the panel of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of part of the panel of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an exploded partially cut-away view on a larger scale of partof FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a first and second surface ofa panel for an alternate compartment of the vehicle according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a section through the panel of FIG. 8 disposed in the vehiclecompartment, and

FIG. 10 is a view in more detail of part of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, a rear part of a vehicle is shown at 10comprising a vehicle compartment 11 having a forward wall 11 a, sidewalls 11 b, 11 c, a rear wall 11 d and a floor part 11 e. A floor panelaccording to a first embodiment of a first aspect of the presentinvention is shown at 12. The panel comprises a first surface 13, in thepresent example comprising a yielding surface such as carpet, and asecond surface 14 uppermost, comprising a durable, preferablyliquid-resistant surface comprising for example a suitable durablepolymer based material bonded or laminated to the underside of the firstsurface 13. By “durable” we preferably mean a scratch-resistant andliquid resistant material, also preferably a washable and substantiallyrigid material. The surface 14 comprises a raised edge part 15 extendingaround the periphery of the panel 12 and a plurality of elongate ridgeparts 16 disposed such that when the panel 12 is disposed in the vehiclecompartment 11, the ridges 16 extend in a direction from the rear wall11 d towards the front wall 11 a. The periphery of the panel 12 isshaped to have a forward part 17 a, side parts 17 b, 17 c, and arearward part 17 d to engage the compartment walls 11 a, 11 b, 11 c, 11d respectively to hold the panel 12 in place within the vehiclecompartment 11. The panel is symmetrical about an axis generally shownat A such that the panel 12 may be located in the vehicle compartment 11with either the first surface 13 or second surface 14 uppermost.

The panel 12 may thus be located in the vehicle compartment 11 toprotect the compartment floor 11 e, with a desired surface 13, 14uppermost depending what it is desired to place in the vehiclecompartment 11. Where it is desired to place a relatively light and/orclean load in the compartment 11, the surface 13 with carpet may beplaced uppermost. If a heavy or dirty load is intended to be used, thepanel may be removed from the compartment 11, rotated about axis A asshown in FIG. 1 such that surface 14 is uppermost and replaced in thecompartment 11. The ridges 16 are oriented to assist loads being pushedor slid into the compartment 11, whilst the ridge 15 retains anyspillage or detritus from the load.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the panel 12 is shown.The same reference numerals are used in FIG. 2 as in FIG. 1 for the sameparts. In the second embodiment, however, in addition to ridges 16, thesecond surface 14 is provided with additional ridge parts 18 havingrotatable bearing means, in the present example comprising rollers 19.The rollers 19 are disposed such that they project above the tippersurface of the additional ridge parts 18 and are mounted for rotationabout a horizontal axis S extending generally transverse to the ridges18. A manually operable looking means 20 may be provided to stoprotation of the rollers 19 if desired.

As seen in FIG. 3, when it is desired to place a load 21 in the vehiclecompartment 11, the panel 12 is disposed in the compartment 11 such thatthe durable second surface 14 is uppermost. The locking means 20 isactivated such that the rollers 19 are able to rotate and the load 21placed in a rearward part of the compartment 11. The load 11 can then bepushed in a forward direction by virtue of engagement with the rollers19 until the load is in a desired position. The manually operablebraking control 20 may then be operated to lock the rollers 19 toprevent rotation. The surface 14 may be provided with anchor means, inthe present example D-rings 22, which for example engage straps orrestraining means to hold the load 21 in position.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the locking means 20 is shown in moredetail. As best seen in FIG. 6, the surface 14 is provided with ridges16 and with a recessed area 23 to receive a further ridge part 18. Eachroller 19 comprises a central cylindrical portion 19 a, at either end ofwhich and co-axial therewith with are end cylindrical portions 19 b. Therecessed area 23 is provided with indents 24 each having an elongatecentral part 24 a to receive the central cylindrical portion 19 a of acorresponding one of the rollers 19, and side portions 24 b adapted toreceive the cylindrical end portions 19 b such that the centralcylindrical portion 19 a is spaced from the floor of the central part 24a.

In the present example, six rollers 19 and corresponding indents 24 areprovided in each further ridge part 18, although any number may beprovided as desired. The recess 23 is further provided with endconnection means 25 and central connection means 26 to receive fasteners27. The further ridge part 18 is provided by a cover plate 28 providedwith a plurality of apertures 29 each corresponding to an indent 24 andthrough which a corresponding roller 19 passes. Adjacent each aperture29 is an upstanding ridge portion 30, defining a downwardly opening partcylindrical portion 31, such that when the cover plate 28 is locatedover the recess 23 each side portion 24 b and corresponding partcylindrical portion 31 define a cylindrical recess to receive acylindrical end portions 19 b of a roller 19. The cover plate 28 isfurther provided with a plurality of fastening holes 32 such that eachfastening hole 32 corresponds to an end connection means 25 or a centralconnection means 26 and through which a fastener 27 is passed.

Disposed between the recess 23 and the cover plate 28 is a brakingelement 33. The braking element 33 comprises a plurality of apertures 34each corresponding to a roller 19. Adjacent each aperture 34 is alocking surface 35 adapted to engage a roller 19. A plurality ofelongate slots 36 are provided which receive the upstanding connectionmeans 26 such that the braking element 33 is able to move in thedirection of the slots relative to the engagement means 26. At the endof the braking element 33 nearest a manual engagable handle 38 is a partcircular recess 37. As seen in FIG. 7, the locking means 20 comprises amanually engagable handle 38, part received in a circular recess 39 inthe cover plate 28. The handle 38 has a rod part 38 a which passesthrough an aperture 39 a in the cover plate 28 and is keyed by lugs 40to a cam element 41. The cam element 41 is of generally circularcross-section, but is offset from the axis of rotation of the handle 38.A first circular ratchet gear 42 is provided on the upper surface of thecam element 41, and engages a corresponding second circular ratchet gear43 disposed on the underside of cover plate 28 concentric with theaperture 39 a. A resilient biasing means, in the present example a coilcompression spring 44 engages a channel 45 of the recess 23 and a lowercylindrical part 46 of the cain element 41, and thus acts to urge thecam element in an upward direction such that the first ratchet gear 42and second ratchet gear 43 are engaged.

When it is desired to lock the rollers 19 to prevent them from rotation,the handle 28 is turned in a clockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 6 and7. The cam element 41 is turned in a clockwise direction and inclinedsurfaces 42 a, 43 b of the ratchet gear 42 and upper ratchet gear 43respectively slide over one another against the resistance of the coilcompression spring 44. The cam element 41 engages the part circular face37 of the braking element 33, urging the braking element 33 to the rightas seen in FIG. 6 such that the locking surfaces 35 each engage thecorresponding roller 19. The friction between the rollers 19 and thelocking surfaces 35 thus prevent rotation of the rollers 19. Upstandingedges 42 b, 43 b of the first ratchet gear 42 and second ratchet gear 43respectively engage, thus preventing anti-clockwise movement of the camelement 41.

When it is required to release the brake element 33, the handle 28 isdepressed against the resistance of the coil compression spring 44disengaging the first ratchet gear 42 and second ratchet gear 43 andpermitting the cam element 41 to rotate anti-clockwise as seen in FIGS.6 and 7 such that the brake element 33 is permitted to move to the leftand disengage the brake surfaces 35 from the respective rollers 19.

Although the bearing means 19 are shown in the present example in afloor panel having a pair of surfaces either which may be selected to beuppermost, in a second aspect of the invention it will be apparent thatsuch bearing means could be provided in a floor panel where only thesurface provided with the rollers 19 is intended to be uppermost. Such apanel may be removable, or may be permanently or semi-permanently fixedin place in the vehicle compartment.

As seen in FIG. 5, the rollers 19 may be provided with a surface havingtoothed projections 19 a to engage a load. The bearing means mayalternatively comprises spherical or part-spherical elements mounted forrotation, or may be of any other desired shape as appropriate.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 to 10, a vehicle 110 is shown having a vehiclecompartment 111 which is not symmetrical about the centre line of thevehicle, unlike the compartment 11 of FIGS. 1 to 3. The compartment 111comprises side walls 111 b, 111 c, a rearward wall 111 d and a floor 111e. It will be apparent that the side walls 111 b, 111 c are of differentconfiguration and so it would not be possible to provide a reversiblepanel which engages the side walls 111 b, 111 c. According to a furtherembodiment of the first aspect of the invention, and as shown in FIG. 8,a panel 112 is provided wherein the width of the panel 112 is less thanthe width of the vehicle compartment 111, and wherein the panel 112 issymmetrical about axis C. As in the panels of FIGS. 1 and 2, the panel112 is provided with a first surface 113 comprising a carpet or likematerial, and a durable surface 114 provided with a raised periphery 115and a plurality of ridges 116.

Provided in the floor 111 e of the compartment 111 is a support means117 shaped to receive the floor panel 112. The support means 117comprises a lip part 118 to receive an edge part 115 provided on thepanel 112. The lip part 118 may be provided on an edge part of a deeperrecess, for example a well for a spare wheel, or the support means 117may be only sufficiently deep to receive the panel 112 such thatwhichever surface is uppermost is generally at the same height as theside parts of the compartment floor 111 e. In the embodiment as shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, the panel 112 is preferably provided with edge parts 115on both surfaces 113 and 114 of the panel 112. The edge parts 115 reston the lip part 118 in load bearing relation thereto such that thecarpet of surface 113 is not crushed or spoiled by transmitting loadfrom the panel 112 to the lip part 118. In this configuration, loadrestraint means comprising D-rings 119 are provided on the floor 111 eof the compartment 111. It will be apparent that the panel 112 may beprovided with bearing means or any other feature described herein withreference to the first and second embodiments.

Although the floor panels 12, 112 described herein have been shown asbeing located in the boot of an automobile, it will be apparent thatpanels according to the present invention may be used, for example inthe foot wells of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, or a loadingcarrying compartment of any other vehicle as desired.

Although as described, the panel 12, 112 has been stated to comprise apolymer based material to provide the durable side, bonded/laminated tothe carpet side, the panel may of course have any suitable structure asdesired to provide an appropriate strength panel. The durable surfaceand carpet may be bonded to a core panel or armature of suitablerigidity, for example a steel plate, or any other structure may be usedas desired.

In the present specification “comprise” means “includes or consists of”and “comprising” means “including or consisting of”.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the followingclaims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific formsor in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or amethod or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate,may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised forrealising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

While the invention has been specifically described in connection withcertain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that thisis by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of theappended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art willpermit.

1. A floor panel for a vehicle compartment, the panel comprising a firstsurface and a second surface opposite said first surface, wherein one ofsaid first and second surfaces is provided with a plurality of bearingelements disposed to project above said surface when said surface isuppermost, and wherein both of said first and said second surfaces arecapable of being uppermost while said floor panel is positionedcompletely within the vehicle compartment.
 2. A panel according to claim1, wherein the bearing elements comprises a plurality of rollers.
 3. Apanel according to claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of rollershas an axis of rotation, each axis of rotation being generally paralleland wherein said axes of rotation are disposed such that a load isintroduced into the compartment in a direction generally transverse tosaid axes.
 4. A pane according to claim 1, wherein locking means isprovided to releasably prevent rotation of said bearing means.
 5. Apanel according to claim 4, wherein the locking means comprises alocking surface which is moveable into engagement with a surface of thebearing means.
 6. A panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel isadapted to extend across a width of the vehicle compartment.
 7. A panelaccording to claim 1, wherein the panel extends across a part of thevehicle compartment.
 8. A panel according to claim 1, wherein the panelis adapted to engage support means provided in the vehicle compartment.9. A panel according to the panel is symmetrical.
 10. A panel accordingto claim 1, further comprising anchor means to engage load restraintmeans.
 11. A panel according to claim 10, wherein the anchor meanscomprises D-rings.
 12. A panel according to claim 1, wherein one of saidsurfaces includes ridges.
 13. A panel according to claim 1, wherein saidfirst surface has a different material property than said secondsurface.
 14. A panel according to claim 13, wherein one of said surfacescomprises carpet.
 15. A panel according to claim 13, wherein one of saidsurfaces comprises a polymer material.